School's prized `wetland' caused by a leaking pipe

A Taipei primary school was much chagrined when it was revealed Thursday that school's famous "wetland" was caused by a leaking water pipe.

According to Chen Pao-yu (陳寶鈺), the master of Gongguan Primary School, the pupils and teachers told her when she first arrived at the school that there was a natural spring on campus.

Taking it as an opportunity to teach students about nature and ecology, Chen in 2000 turned the "wetland" into an ecological park complete with a pond, a pavilion with solar-powered lamps, frogs, butterflies and egrets.

The school last year applied for and received from the Ministry of Education NT$8 million to expand the park. But a local resident's report to the Taipei Water Works demonstrated that Gongguan's "natural" spring was caused by a leaking pipe.

Taipei Water Works estimates that during the past 27 years, over 45,000 tonnes of water has leaked.